(Reuters) - The Philadelphia Eagles rewarded LeSean McCoy with a five-year contract extension after the running back enjoyed a breakout 2011 season, the National Football League (NFL) team said on Thursday.

* Palmer sets sizzling pace with six-under-par 64 * Leishman soars into contention with two eagles (Updates at end of round) May 17 (Reuters) - Twelve months after losing a playoff forthe Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, Ryan Palmer hadredemption on his mind after taking control of the tournament inThursday's opening round. The 35-year-old American made the most of ideal scoringconditions at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, firing aflawless six-under-par 64 to grab a one-shot lead. ...

(Reuters) - Twelve months after losing a playoff for the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, Ryan Palmer had redemption on his mind after taking control of the tournament in Thursday's opening round.

May 17 (Infostrada Sports) - Leading first round scores fromthe U.S. PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Championship on Thursday in Irving, Texas (par-70) 64 Ryan Palmer (U.S.) 64 65 Marc Leishman (Australia) 65 Alex Cejka (Germany) 65 66 Scott Piercy (U.S.) 66 Charley Hoffman (U.S.) 66 Bill Lunde (U.S.) 66 Blake Adams (U.S.) 66 Matt Kuchar (U.S.) 66 Dicky Pride (U.S.) 66 Andres Gonzales (U.S.) 66 67 Greg Owen (Britain) 67 Josh Teater (U.S.) 67 James Driscoll (U.S.) 67 Ricky Barnes (U.S.) 67 Jason Dufner (U.S.) 67 Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) 67 Tim Petrovic (U.S.) 67 Keegan Bradley (U.S.) 67 Pat Perez ...

(Reuters) - Suspended New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has filed a defamation lawsuit against National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell over statements regarding a "bounty" scheme reportedly used by the Saints.

American Ryan Palmer fired a bogey-free six-under par 64 to seize a one-shot lead over German Alex Cejka and Australian Marc Leishman after round one of the Byron Nelson Championship.

(Reuters) - Two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay finally got some run support from his Philadelphia team mates and won for the first time in more than a month on Thursday as the Phillies eked an 8-7 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Tony Parker celebrated his 30th birthday by scoring 22 points to lead San Antonio over the Los Angeles Clippers 105-88, stretching the Spurs' win streak to 16 games.

(Reuters) - The Indiana Pacers, showing the poise and determination Miami was supposed to have, routed the cold shooting Heat 94-75 on Thursday to take a surprising 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series.

The Philadelphia Phillies are mighty proud of their run of five straight NL East championships.

May 18 (Infostrada Sports) - Scores from the World MatchPlay Championship group stage on Friday in Casares, Spain. ...

No one is loving the run up to Saturday's Preakness more than Doug O'Neill.

(Reuters) - Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and umpire Bob Davidson were each banned for one game by Major League Baseball (MLB) on Friday following their nose-to-nose shouting match during a game earlier this week. Manuel was ejected in the eighth inning of the Phillies' 4-3 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday for disputing a call made by Davidson that allowed an opposing player to reach first base safely on a dropped third strike. The Phillies manager left the dugout to argue and came face-to-face with Davidson on the field for a heated argument that lasted about 40 seconds. ...

England's Richard Finch delivered the first big upset at the Volvo World Match-Play Championship on Friday as he knocked out former PGA Champion Martin Kaymer of Germany.

May 18 (Infostrada Sports) - Standings after the round robinstage of the World Match Play Championship in Casares, Spain onFriday. ...

May 18 (Reuters) - Top seed Martin Kaymer lost to England'sRichard Finch to become one of three major champions who exitedthe World Match Play Championship on Friday. The world number nine missed a simple putt at the last tolose by one hole, his second defeat in two days after he losthis first round-robin match to Rafael Cabrera-Bello on Thursday. Last year's British Open winner Darren Clarke and 2011Masters champion Charl Schwartzel also finished bottom of theirgroups to beat a swift exit from the competition. ...

(Reuters) - Top seed Martin Kaymer lost to England's Richard Finch to become one of three major champions who exited the World Match Play Championship on Friday.

Kerry Wood, who electrified baseball with a 20-strikeout game as a rookie in 1998 and then became a reliever after his career was slowed by injuries, is expected to retire after pitching one more time for the Chicago Cubs.

May 18 (Reuters) - In-form Matt Kuchar recovered from anerratic front nine to surge into a five-way tie for the earlylead in Friday's second round of the Byron Nelson Championshipin Irving, Texas. The American world number five, the highest-ranked player inthe field, covered his back nine in four-under-par 31 tocomplete a two-under 68 at the TPC Four Seasons Resort LasColinas as the wind began to pick up for the late starters. That left Kuchar at six-under 134 and level with compatriotsChad Campbell (66), overnight leader Ryan Palmer (70), Pat Perez(67) and Dicky Pride (68). ...

(Reuters) - The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed head coach Larry Drew back for a third season after he steered the injury-hit team to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, the National Basketball Association team said on Friday. Despite losing several key players for stretches of the lockout-shortened season, the Hawks made the playoffs for a fifth straight year before losing to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the postseason. ...